My 557 is about a year old. I have cut maybe 800 slots in that time, in all
the common hardwoods.

It does not seem to work as effortlessly as it did new. It still works and
cuts a clean accurate slot, but it fights a little to do it. When new it
was hard to tell it was doing anything; now it is obvious.

Is it time to replace the bit? Can it sharpened? By me, or does it have to
be done by someone who knows what he is doing?
Thanks.

The BLADE can be resharpened by some "who knows what they are doing", or
you can buy a spanking new blade. Woe to you if the blade sharpening
reduces the slot thickness.

Dave

toller wrote:
My 557 is about a year old. I have cut maybe 800 slots in that time, in all
the common hardwoods.

It does not seem to work as effortlessly as it did new. It still works and
cuts a clean accurate slot, but it fights a little to do it. When new it
was hard to tell it was doing anything; now it is obvious.

Is it time to replace the bit? Can it sharpened? By me, or does it have to
be done by someone who knows what he is doing?
Thanks.

toller wrote:
My 557 is about a year old. I have cut maybe 800 slots in that time, in all
the common hardwoods.

It does not seem to work as effortlessly as it did new. It still works and
cuts a clean accurate slot, but it fights a little to do it. When new it
was hard to tell it was doing anything; now it is obvious.

Is it time to replace the bit? Can it sharpened? By me, or does it have to
be done by someone who knows what he is doing?
Thanks.



Check to make sure it's not just the slides that are binding. It may
just need a cleaning.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA

(Remove -SPAM- to send email)

I would go with the slides, too. Try some Teflon based lubricating
spray on them. NO WD40.

You can touch up your blade by honing it with a small, flat handheld
diamond sharpening stick. These work great for that and on your
carbide router bits as well. Available on the net or at a Woodcraft
near you.

Robert

toller says...

My 557 is about a year old. I have cut maybe 800 slots in that time, in all
the common hardwoods.

It does not seem to work as effortlessly as it did new. It still works and
cuts a clean accurate slot, but it fights a little to do it. When new it
was hard to tell it was doing anything; now it is obvious.

Is it time to replace the bit? Can it sharpened? By me, or does it have to
be done by someone who knows what he is doing?
Thanks.

Cleaning the blade might help too, like on a table saw. Maybe the blade
just has burned in resin on it.

In article , "toller" wrote:
My 557 is about a year old. I have cut maybe 800 slots in that time, in all
the common hardwoods.

It does not seem to work as effortlessly as it did new. It still works and
cuts a clean accurate slot, but it fights a little to do it. When new it
was hard to tell it was doing anything; now it is obvious.

Is it time to replace the bit? Can it sharpened?

Yes. I honed mine with one of the cheapie fine-grit diamond pocket hones they
sell at Sears, after dulling it on sugar maple - worked fine.

By me, or does it have to
be done by someone who knows what he is doing?

Depends on how careful and patient you are, I guess.



--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt.
And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?

On the Lamellos, we use oil.

--

Rumpty

Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start

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wrote in message
ups.com...
I would go with the slides, too. Try some Teflon based lubricating
spray on them. NO WD40.

You can touch up your blade by honing it with a small, flat handheld
diamond sharpening stick. These work great for that and on your
carbide router bits as well. Available on the net or at a Woodcraft
near you.

Robert